Commentary on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues in sport from a long-time educator and advocate for social justice in sports. I am also author of Strong Women, Deep Closets: Lesbians and Homophobia in Sport. The opinions expressed in this blog are solely mine and do not necessarily reflect those of any organization with which I am affiliated.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Keelin Godsey talks about his experience as transgender athlete

Keelin Godsey is a world class athlete who competes in the
women’s hammer throw. Keelin recently placed fifth in the US Olympic Trials,
narrowly missing the cut for the team going to London.Keelin is a transgender man who has not made
a medical transition so that he can continue to compete in the women’s hammer
throw.Not making a medical transition means
that Keelin is not taking testosterone and has not undergone any surgical
procedures as part of his transition.

Keelin sat down for an interview with Ann Schatz after the trials:

Many people are confused by the thought that a transgender
man would want to or be allowed to compete in women’s sports.Some would say, “Ok, if you are a man,
compete in the men’s hammer throw.” One of the many powerful parts of this
interview is to hear Keelin talk about the importance of his identification as
an athlete, and even more specifically, an elite hammer thrower. He talks about
how being an athlete saved his life.He
talk about how being a hammer thrower is such an important part of his identity
and a source of his positive feelings about himself.I don’t see how you can listen to Keelin talk
about this and not understand how devastating it would be to take away his
opportunity to compete in his sport, women’s hammer throw.

You also can get a little insight into the process of
deciding to transition, whether that is a social transition and/or a medical
transition. You also get a small insight into the internal struggles and social
obstacles that transgender people face in and out of sport just to live their
lives as their truth demands.You feel
the pain, the struggle, the courage and the determination to define yourself in
opposition to powerful gender expectations that push us all into little boxes
that limit our ability to see ourselves in any way that defies the gender
binary we are taught is “normal.”

Keelin’s interview should be required viewing for anyone in
sports who wants to learn, up close and personal, what it is like to be transgender
and an athlete and to insist on the right to honor both parts of that
identity.

It is also important to recognize that Keelin’s story is
his. Every trans athlete has her or his own story and that Keelin’s story is
only one of a larger mosaic of transgender experience that is as diverse and
personalized as any of our stories. I
recommend taking the 20 minutes necessary to watch and, more importantly,
listen to Keelin. I promise you will come away with a deeper appreciation for
what it means to be a transgender athlete.

Godsey threw a personal best of 70.49m to finish fifth at Thursday's Olympic Trials.

American Keelin Godsey finished fifth in the hammer throw at Thursday's Olympic trials in Portland. And while fifth isn't typically front page fodder, Godsey, 28, who was born and still competes as a female, now identifies as a male and was striving to become the first American to openly identify as a transgender athlete at the Olympics.

I just wanted to add a comment here to mention thanks for you very nice ideas. Blogs are troublesome to run and time consuming thus I appreciate when I see well written material. Your time isn’t going to waste with your posts. Thanks so much and stick with it No doubt you will definitely reach your goals! Have a great day!

explained almost all people reimburse your borrowing products in time and also with no bank charges A respected bill aid organization is attempting the numerous people today checking out these to get benefit across payday cash loan loans for you to twin this kind of. arrears charity claims approximately purchase any quickly, high appeal to mortgages this current year. Any aid organization reveals several years ago the quantity of prospects with them seemed to be insignificant. http://szybkapozyczkaonline.com.plpowiązana strona z tym tematemczytaj dalejpożyczka bez bik i krdpożyczki z zfśs

Superb write-up I really like ones article; love and the choice of defined all things, you are doing a fantastic job lots of other people as you by way of that will form of useful weblogs produce attention in order to us all associated with several things. When i examine other sorts of intriguing websites through your internet websites in addition to I'm a whole lot interested with your blogging and site-building expertise, I likewise started to create write-up and this variety discussion really aid me available. When i currently book marked your webpage along with distributed ones internet sites in order to our fellow workers not only me personally but these people like ones blogging knowledge, wish an individual generate far more exciting blogs this way 1 as well as good luck to your future blogs.

Excellent post I really like your write-up; adore and the choice of outlined things, you are carrying out a fantastic work the majority of some others like you by way of that style of educational websites supply recognition in order to us relevant to a lot of things. We understand various other fascinating blogs from your sites and I'm a lot serious together with your blogs knowledge, I in addition began to compose write-up and this sort debate genuinely guide us away. My partner and i already book marked the site as well as discussed your own internet websites to be able to the fellow workers not just me yet them all similar to your own blogs abilities, expect you write much more intriguing weblogs like this just one and enjoy for your long term blogs.